I started to charge my brand new Sony PRS-650 with the micro-USB plug inserted into the slot. It charges and transfers files, but it's loose. I can actually wiggle the micro-USB plug left and right only when its inserted in the micro-USB slot. I'll have to assume something inside the slot is loose.

Anyone here experience a similar problem with their Sony Reader?

I do want to note that I've used 2 other Sony PRS-650 readers and it didn't have the problem.

My PRS-650 micro-usb connector also shows a little bit of play - a little more with some micro-usb cables - a little less with others.

The play is tiny, only about a fraction of a millimeter, and a few degrees of travel at the connector itself, but this is enough that it feels just every so slightly like something is 'loose', and this feeling gets magnified by distance, so you can actually wiggle the end of the micro usb plug back and forth about 3 or 4 mm (say 3/16 inch).

So if this is what you are seeing, I wouldn't worry about it, because it seems to be normal for Micro-USB.

Micro-USB requires very precise alignment, because the electrical contacts are so small, so this may seem strange . . .

You would think that with such small electrical contacts, we would need to make the tolerances extremely tight and lock things down so tightly that they can't budge even the tiniest bit.

But beyond a certain point this just isn't practical, so an alternative is to design the connector so that the critical parts, the electrical contacts, float slightly and self align when mated, and then make sure that the other parts of the connector have enough play so that they won't knock the contacts back out of alignment during normal handling

This can give the the micro-usb connector the feeling of just a little looseness, but this is designed in, and perfectly normal.

So, as a practical matter on your PRS-650, if wigging the cable gently back and forth through it's normal few mm of travel doesn't cause data errors, or device disconnect issues, I wouldn't worry about it.

Silly question but are you sure it's the 650 that's loose and not the cable? I had a similar problem with my phone and found out it was the charger, not the phone that was the issue. I was happy since a new charger is cheaper than a new phone :P

delphin, what you described about your mirco-USB slot for PRS-650 is about the same in terms what's happens to mine.

Interestingly, for my PRS-650, once I insert the micro-USB cable into the slot, I can actually push it in even more because it's not perfectly aligned (angled like a slope). Even though if I don't push the micro-USB cable in more to make it aligned to the PRS-650, I can perfectly transfer files or charge the device without any problems.

odiakkoh, it's the PRS-650 micro-USB slot which is loose.
I pressed and pulled the tiny metal metal part of the micro-USB cable and it didn't move at all.

I don't think I'll exchange my PRS-650 because in terms of reliability of transfering files and recharging, it still works without any problems. In terms of external appearance, it looks perfectly normal, nothing is bulging out when I pull of the micro-USB cable from the slot.

The only thing I have to somewhat worry is long term reliability. Since something is loose, what if I drop it or if it gets roughed up a bit with some shock?

Actually, being a bit puzzled by your description, I've tried 5 other devices - camera, mp3, phones etc.. - with the same plugging, and they all move to a certain extent, they aren't actually loose, and obviously this will amplify the further from the socket you hold the cable.

And how hard you wiggle it !

If that's all you have, and everything works, cancel my earlier suggestion and forget it - nowt's wrong.

I just tried out my friend's PRS-350 micro-USB cable for my PRS-650 and it didn't have the problem. Slips in perfectly aligned and it didn't have the wiggle problem. So, it had to be the cable not the micro-USB slot itself.

On another note, the inside upper right part, especially the shiny silver area of the PRS-650's micro-USB slot has a deep line scratch. Does anyone here have it on their PRS-650? If not, I think my faulty micro-USB cable's barb caused it.

I just tried out my friend's PRS-350 micro-USB cable for my PRS-650 and it didn't have the problem. Slips in perfectly aligned and it didn't have the wiggle problem. So, it had to be the cable not the micro-USB slot itself.

On another note, the inside upper right part, especially the shiny silver area of the PRS-650's micro-USB slot has a deep line scratch. Does anyone here have it on their PRS-650? If not, I think my faulty micro-USB cable's barb caused it.

No sign of any marks on mine. You are probably right in that the faulty cable has caused it.

. . . On another note, the inside upper right part, especially the shiny silver area of the PRS-650's micro-USB slot has a deep line scratch. Does anyone here have it on their PRS-650? If not, I think my faulty micro-USB cable's barb caused it.

You're not talking about the vertical line to the right of the jack are you?

That's an engraving of the USB symbol.

On the other hand, if you are talking about the apperent 'scratch' on the internal structure of the jack surround at the upper right side, get out a magnifying glass and look again . . .

That's not a 'scratch' it's a tiny intentional slot-like HOLE.

There is another matching small slot shaped hole on the other side, at the upper left of the jacks internal surround too.

These holes align with tiny springy finger protrusions on the top left and top right side of the micro-usb plug that plugs into this jack.

The idea it that the springy protrusions on the plug engage with the holes inside the jack, and help hold the connector in place once you plug it in.

Today - having more free time - I discovered that with my friend's PRS-350 micro-USB cable, I can still wiggle it a bit when it's fully inserted. It still fits in smoothly, but there's a very minor movement while I use my friend's PRS-350 cable. Yes, it stills wiggles when it's fully inserted when pushed left or right. Wiggles, but not as bad as my original micro-USB port.

I heard that micro-USB ports are designed to be inserted and taken out 10,000 before any problems develops.